1 Timothy 6:11 (KJV)

What does 1 Timothy 6:11 mean?

1 Timothy 6:11 tells Timothy, as a servant of God, to avoid certain harmful attitudes and behaviors and instead to actively pursue qualities like righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness. The verse is a call to turn away from what is wrong and to deliberately seek what is good and upright.

Paul, the apostle, is writing to Timothy, a younger leader in the early church, giving him personal instructions. The context is a warning against the dangers of greed and false teaching, so Paul urges Timothy to separate himself from these things and to focus on virtues that reflect a life devoted to God.

The Greek behind 1 Timothy 6:11

• The word "flee" (φεῦγε, pheuge) means to run away or escape quickly. Paul is not suggesting a slow withdrawal but an urgent, decisive action to avoid the dangers he has just described.
• The phrase "follow after" (διώκε, diōke) carries the sense of actively pursuing or chasing something with determination, not just passively hoping for these qualities to appear.
• "Righteousness" (δικαιοσύνη, dikaiosynē) is about living in a way that is just and morally right, especially in how one treats others.
• "Meekness" (πραΰτης, prautēs) is often understood as gentleness or humility, a strength under control, rather than weakness.

Why 1 Timothy 6:11 matters

• This verse clarifies that simply avoiding wrong is not enough; Paul calls for an active pursuit of godly character, showing that spiritual growth requires both turning away and moving toward something better.
• The list of virtues—righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness—shows what Paul considers essential for a leader in the church, helping readers see what qualities to value and develop.
• In the wider context, 1 Timothy 6:11 stands as a contrast to the love of money and selfish ambition described earlier, emphasizing that a life devoted to God looks very different from one driven by greed.